A rheumatologist is doctor that specializes in diagnosing what are known as rheumatic diseases. They include ailments that can affect the joints, muscles and bones causing pain, swelling, stiffness and deformity. Common diseases treated by rheumatologists include osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic back pain, tendinitis and lupus. Needless to say, such physicians perform extremely important functions in our society.
One without a rheumatic disease can only imagine the hardships that come with such a condition. Naturally, we all look to medical professionals like rheumatologists to assist us with our life-altering ailments. The seriousness of such illnesses cannot be underestimated. This is why the heinousness of Dr. Jorge Zamora-Quezada cannot be measured.
Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed his patients.
As was reported by the United States Department of Justice yesterday, Zamora-Quezada has been found guilty for his role in a $325 million health care fraud scheme that involved his false diagnoses of patients. These patients were forced to endure the untrue news that they were battling life-long rheumatic diseases. The 63 year-old, Texas-based doctor also treated these individuals with toxic medications on the basis of his false diagnoses.
As the DoJ report details, following a 25-day trial, Zamora-Quezada was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. He is expected to be sentenced on March 27, 2020.
Zamora-Quezada’s victims included children.
According to the evidence presented at the trial, Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed a large number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, which is a life-long, incurable disease. As mentioned, he also treated them with toxic, medically unnecessary medications including chemotherapy drugs. Some of his patients were as young as 13 years old. They suffered physical and emotional harm as a result of their doctor’s false diagnoses and chemotherapy injections.
“The evidence further showed that to obstruct and mislead a federal grand jury investigation, Zamora-Quezada falsified medical records,” reveals the DoJ, “Zamora-Quezada operated medical practices throughout South Texas and San Antonio. He traveled to his various offices on his private jet and in his Maserati.”
“The conduct in this case was heinous.”
The Allegiant Experts Blog has covered countless stories involving health care fraud in our country. However, there are certain stories that stick in our craw more than others. This is one of them. We can’t help but be infuriated at the idea that children suffered at the hands of Zamora-Quezada and his relentless greed. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division clearly agrees with us.
“The conduct in this case was heinous,” he is quoted as saying in the DoJ report, “Dr. Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed vulnerable patients, including the young, elderly, and disabled, with life-long diseases requiring invasive treatments that those patients did not in fact need. Today’s guilty verdict shows that the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to protect the public from unscrupulous medical professionals who greedily line their own pockets at the expense of their patients’ health and safety.”
Are you an attorney who is currently trying a health care fraud case?
Please don’t hesitate to contact Allegiant Experts to find out how our clinical expertise may help your case. Give us a call at 407-217-5831 or email us at info@allegiantexperts.com.